PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alvin Cline (ranked 23206 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Lataj (ranked 5473 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Cline
vs
Lataj

156 cm
25
151 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alvin Cline!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Victor Lataj!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cline gets caught napping as Lataj dives in and scores a takedown. Cline manages to retain guard.
Lataj sitting in guard, not really doing much.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lataj accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lataj tries to free his leg and advance position but Cline is retaining full guard.
Lataj is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cline looking to control.
Lataj has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lataj is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cline could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Lataj forces Cline back against the cage and clinches.

Lataj has picked Cline up - he's going for a ride! Lataj dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Cline wants to stand back up but Lataj manages to pass into side control.
Lataj cracks Cline with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Cline tries to strike but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lataj has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lataj.
Cline is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Lataj has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cline tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cline blocking the ground and pound.
Lataj sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lataj looking to ground and pound but Cline is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lataj controlling from mount.
Lataj looking to ground and pound but Cline is blocking nicely.
Cline tries to hold on but Lataj postures up.
Lataj controlling from the full mount.
Cline wants to control but Lataj is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lataj punching from mount but Cline doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Lataj takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lataj with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Lataj looking to ground and pound but Cline is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lataj content just to control the position here.

Lataj goes for an armbar but Cline turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Cline.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Lataj dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lataj stuffs the takedown.
Cline fails with a takedown attempt.

Lataj shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Lataj takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cline is looking for a sweep. Lataj is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lataj thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lataj controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lataj is looking to take a break and control but Cline is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lataj thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lataj not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Lataj stands up from half guard.
Lataj throws a nice head kick!

Lataj drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cline might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lataj missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lataj controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lataj looking to sit in guard and control but Cline gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lataj has control of Cline's left arm, preventing Cline from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cline avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cline wanted to stand there but Lataj had control of the position.

Lataj working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cline doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cline manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lataj is pulling down on Cline's head. It's preventing any offense from Cline, at least for the moment.
Cline won't allow Lataj to sweep him here.
Cline wants to stand but Lataj is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Lataj is working an open guard so Cline takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Lataj.
Lataj goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Alvin Cline is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cline dives in for a single leg takedown but Lataj sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alvin Cline. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cline looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cline fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Cline feints and as Lataj raises his hands in defense, Cline changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Lataj has his feet on Cline's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cline closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lataj circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Lataj as Cline shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Lataj showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck for Cline with that takedown attempt.
Victor Lataj seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lataj shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cline is trying to defend but Lataj finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Lataj has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cline keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lataj gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Lataj rushes Cline and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lataj jumps guard and drags Cline to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cline wanted to stand there but Lataj had control of the position.
Cline won't allow Lataj to sweep him here.
Cline wants to stand but Lataj has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Cline gets to his feet - Lataj follows without any prompting.

Lataj decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cline trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Lataj manages to pass to mount!
Lataj trying to control but Cline is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lataj misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Lataj takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lataj wants to control but Cline has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Lataj keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cline actively working from the bottom here.
Lataj tries to stand but can't do so whilst Cline controls his leg.
Lataj throwing shots but Cline is blocking nicely.

Lataj is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cline is refusing to be controlled, as Lataj sits in half guard.
Lataj seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lataj sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cline defending well though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Alvin Cline has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Victor Lataj is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cline misses with a kick to the body
and Lataj counters with a series of strikes. Cline will be more careful next time no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Lataj comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lataj has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Lataj!